Input and output hall structure for sound device in a portable terminal

ABSTRACT

An input/output hall structure for a sound device in a portable terminal includes a main hole and a plurality of sub-holes. The main hole is provided in a case frame forming the exterior of the portable terminal to be exposed to the exterior, and inputs/outputs sound. The plurality of sub-holes is branched from the main hole and communicates with the main hole. The sub-hole and a corresponding sound device communicate sound. The structure reduces the number of holes for inputting/outputting sound of a sound device and provides a more elegant appearance with improved function. A plurality of sound devices can input/output through the main hole and branched configuration of sub-holes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/297,741filed on Jun. 6, 2014 which claims the benefit of the earlier U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/887,639 filed on May 6, 2013 and assignedU.S. Pat. No. 8,774,873 issued on Jul. 8, 2014 which claims the benefitof the earlier U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/723,820 filed on Mar.15, 2010 and assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,437,811 issued on May 7, 2013 andclaims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from patentapplication Serial No. 10-2009-0023784 filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Mar. 20, 2009, the contents of which are incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a case frame defining outer surface ofa portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates toan input/output hall structure (or space structure) for a sound devicein a portable terminal that provides an elegant appearance andfacilitates the input and output of sound.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, portable terminals such as cellular phones, etc. havegone from being luxuries to becoming necessities in our lives, and theirpopularity is worldwide. Users can acquire various visual information,sound information, etc. through the portable terminals. Manufacturersare endeavoring to meet users' every increasing requirements that witheach advancement increases a level of dependence of users on suchportable terminals. The portable terminal provides various multimediafunctions such as Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) viewing, thewireless Internet, etc. besides a basic telephone function.

More particularly, the portable terminal includes a variety of sounddevices for inputting or outputting sound at a time when the telephoneand multimedia functions are enabled. The portable terminal typicallyincludes a hole in a case frame defining outer surface of the portableterminal to input/output sound to/from the sound device, such sounddevice typically being a transducer.

FIG. 1 illustrates a hall structure for inputting/outputting sound abouta sound device of a portable terminal according to the conventional art.Hereinafter, the hall structure will be substantially considered as aspace structure to flow a sound.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the portable terminal typically includes areceiver for outputting voice at the time of a call with a called party,and a microphone for inputting voice. Further, the portable terminalincludes a speakerphone for outputting a high quality of sound at thetime of execution of a multimedia function. Also, in recent years, theportable terminal includes a separate microphone for capturing ambientnoise besides the microphone for inputting the user's voice, thus beingcapable of acquiring a higher quality of user's voice. Commonly, each ofthe sound devices are installed close to a user's mouth or ear at a timea user makes a call. Accordingly, it can be said that the constructionposition of the sound devices is limited to some degree. Also, the sounddevice (e.g., the receiver, the microphone, the speakerphone, etc.) hasa hall structure 10 for inputting/outputting sound through each of holes12, 13, and 14 that are exposed and provided in a case frame 11 of theportable terminal. Thus, when more sound devices are constructed, theportable terminal should construct as many input/output holes as thenumber of the sound devices in the case frame defining outer surface ofthe portable terminal. All of these holes makes are unsightly anddetracts from the appearance of the portable terminal. Also, when acorresponding hole is blocked because of user's carelessness, etc., theportable terminal cannot input/output sound as it was designed.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an input and an output hall structure fora sound device in a portable terminal that combines both sound input andoutput in a plurality of sound devices provided in the portableterminal.

An exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide aninput/output hall structure for a sound device in a portable terminalfor inputting/outputting sound of a plurality of sound devices providedin the portable terminal, and providing an elegant appearance.

Another exemplary aspect of the present invention is to provide aninput/output hall structure for a sound device in a portable terminal bycombining a hole of a receiver or a speaker and a hole of a microphone,by preventing generation of an additional hole, providing an elegantappearance, and for reducing blocking of the hole of the microphone inthe portable terminal.

In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, aninput/output hall structure for a sound device in a portable terminalpreferably includes: a main hole and a plurality of sub-holes; the mainhole is provided in a case frame forming the exterior of the portableterminal and is exposed to the exterior for inputting/outputting sound.The plurality of sub-holes is branched from the main hole andcommunicates with the main hole. The sub-hole and a corresponding sounddevice communicate sound.

Other exemplary aspects, advantages and salient features of theinvention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with theannexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention inmore detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other exemplary objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hall structure for inputting andoutputting sound in a sound device of a portable terminal according tothe conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a hall structure for combiningboth input and output of sound of sound devices in a portable terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating a hall structureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view illustrating a hall structureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings,is provided to assist a person of ordinary skill in the art with acomprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims. The description includesvarious specific details to assist in that understanding, but thesedetails are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes andmodifications of the exemplary embodiments described herein can be madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as definedby the appended claims. Also, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for conciseness and so as not to obscureappreciation of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill withsuch well-known functions and constructions.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the inventionas understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, itshould be apparent to those skilled in the art that the followingdescription of exemplary embodiments of the present invention areprovided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose oflimiting the invention as defined by the appended claims.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the”include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” typically includesreference to one or more of such surfaces.

By the term “substantially” typically means that the recitedcharacteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, butthat deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances,measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factorsknown to skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude theeffect the characteristic was intended to provide.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention discloses a technology for an input/output hallstructure for a sound device in a portable terminal, for combining bothinput and output of sound of a plurality of sound devices in theportable terminal.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a hall structure for combiningboth input and output of sound of sound devices in a portable terminalaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Hereinafter, the hall structure will be substantially considered as aspace structure.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the hall structure 100 has a single hole (mainhole) 125 exposed to the exterior environment. Through the main hole125, the Hall structure 100 can output sound from a receiver orspeakerphone and input sound to a microphone. Unlike a conventional hallstructure of FIG. 1 configured to have a plurality of holescorresponding to each sound device, respectively, the Hall structure 100according to the present invention inputs/outputs sound to/from aplurality of sound devices through the main hole 125. When a hole of amicrophone is blocked, the conventional hall structure deteriorates aquality of transmission sound at the time of a call. Unlike theconventional art, the hall structure 100 according to the presentinvention can better reduce blocking of a hole of a microphone bycombining the hole of the microphone and a hole of a speakerphone orreceiver.

Furthermore, compared to the conventional art, the hall structure 100according to the present invention has elegant appearance by configuringthe single hole 125 exposed to the exterior for the plurality of sounddevices such as the receiver, the speakerphone, the microphone, etc.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hall structureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the hall structure 100 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first plate 110and a second plate 120. The second plate 120 is fixed to a lower part ofthe first plate 110 and exposes the main hole 125 to the exterior. Themain hole 125 introduces and discharges sound. The hall structure 100further includes a third plate 130. The third plate 130 is fixed to alower part of the second plate 120 and forms a path of sound that isoutput from a receiver or speakerphone (not shown) and a path of soundthat is input to a microphone.

The first plate 110 preferably includes a body 111 and a through-hole112. The through-hole 112 is provided in the body 111, and exposes themain hole 125 when the first plate 110 is coupled with the second plate120.

The second plate 120 includes a body 121 and a recess groove 124. Therecess groove 124 is provided in the body 121 and is step-formed tosafely mount the first plate 110. The second plate 120 further includesthe main hole 125, a first sub-hole 122, and a second sub-hole 123 (FIG.4). The main hole 125 is provided in the body 121 and has a combinationof a plurality of through-holes. As shown in FIG. 3, the main hole maybe comprised of a plurality of through-holes. Furthermore, the main holemay be comprised of a single through-hole. The first and secondsub-holes 122 and 123 are branched from the main hole 125 andthrough-pass to a bottom. For example, sound output from the receiver orspeakerphone can be discharged from the first sub hole-122 to theexternal by way of the main hole 125. Also, external sound can beintroduced to the microphone from the main hole 125 by way of the secondsub-hole 123. The first plate 110 and second plate 120 can be formed asone.

The third plate 130 includes a body 131 and passages 132 and 133. Thepassages 132 and 133 are formed in the body 131 and, when the thirdplate 130 is coupled with the second plate 120, communicate with thefirst and second sub holes 122 and 123, thus delivering sound outputfrom a sound device and sound input to a sound device, to the first andsecond sub-holes 122 and 123.

Particularly, a common level of sensitivity of the microphone rangesfrom about −42 dB to −44 dB, and is high enough to deliver a user'svoice to a called party even through a small hole. Accordingly, althoughpart of a hole of a conventional receiver or speakerphone is combinedwith a hole of the microphone, it has no influence on an amount of soundof the receiver or speakerphone. This reduces the number of holes,making the appearance elegant. However, for the sake of a combined hole,it is required to prevent echo and howling of repeating a process inwhich sound is output from the receiver or speakerphone and is input toand amplified in the microphone. Thus, it is desirable to separate asound delivery space of the receiver or speakerphone from a sounddelivery space of the microphone. An example of such structure isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view illustrating a hall structureaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the third plate 130 includes an indented part134 depressed to safely mount a corresponding sound device. The passages132 and 133 are formed by a void space that results from couplingbetween a portion 135 except for the indented part 134 and otherconstituent elements such as a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (not shown).The depiction in FIG. 4 is exemplary and the present invention is notlimited in scope to what is shown in FIG. 4. The passages 132 and 133may also comprise ducts for communicating at one end with acorresponding sound device, and communicating at the other end with thefirst sub-hole 122 of the second plate 120. The duct type passages 132and 133 may input sound to a sound device much far away from the firstsub hole 122 or may output sound from a sound device far away from thefirst sub-hole 122. The arrangement of passages 132 and 133 can providea solution to a problem that the plurality of sound devices such as thereceiver or speakerphone, the microphone, etc. are installed in a narrowspace, thus causing the one-sided mounting of at least any one sounddevice.

The second plate 120 includes the first and second sub-holes 122, 123that are separated from the main hole 125. Further, the second plate 120may include a fence 127. The fence 127 passes through the passage 133 ofthe third plate 130 and communicates with the second sub-hole 123. Thefence 127 may house a corresponding sound device. For instance, thefence 127 may house a microphone. Particularly, as above, the hallstructure of the present invention may further include a cover or shieldchamber for sealing the fence 127 or housing the microphone to preventecho and howling. That is, the fence 127 and the cover isolate the sounddelivery space of the receiver or speakerphone from the sound deliveryspace of the microphone. More desirably, the passages 132 and 133 areseparated and formed correspondingly to the first and second sub-holes122,123 in order to prevent mutual communication. Accordingly, afterbeing input to the fence 127 from the main hole 125 of the second plate120 by way of the second sub-hole 123, external sound is input to themicrophone within the fence 127.

In conclusion, an input/output hall structure for a sound device in aportable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention reduces the number of holes for inputting or outputting soundof the sound device, making the appearance more elegant than knownheretofore. Also, the input/output hall structure combines a hole of areceiver or speakerphone and a hole of a microphone, thus being capableof reducing blockage of the hole of the microphone.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain preferred exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detaileddescription of the invention but by the appended claims, and alldifferences within the scope will be construed as being included in thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a case frame including aset of holes formed thereon; and a speaker and a microphone placed in anenclosure formed at least by the case frame, the speaker to communicatefirst sound to outside of the apparatus via a first subset of the set ofholes, and the microphone to communicate second sound from the outsideof the apparatus via a second subset of the set of holes.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the case frame forms at least one portionof an outer surface of the apparatus.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: at least one plate placed in the enclosure andincluding a first opening and a second opening, each of the firstopening and the second opening at least partially overlapping with theset of holes.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first opening isaligned with the speaker such that the first sound is communicated viathe first opening, and the second opening is aligned with the microphonesuch that the second sound is communicated via the second opening. 5.The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the speaker is to communicate thefirst sound via the first opening, and the microphone is to communicatethe second sound via the second opening.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: at least one duct located between the set of holesand each of the speaker and the microphone.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6,wherein the at least one duct comprises a first opening and a secondopening, the first opening aligned with the speaker and the secondopening aligned with the microphone.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the set of holes are spaced apart from one another substantiallyequally.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the speaker is at leastpartially covered by a cover.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein themicrophone is at least partially covered by a cover.
 11. An apparatuscomprising: a case frame including a set of holes formed thereon; and aspeaker and a microphone placed in an enclosure formed at least by thecase frame, the speaker aligned with a first subset of the set of holesvia a first passage and the microphone aligned with a second subset ofthe set of holes via a second passage.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the first subset or the second subset is exposed to an exteriorsurface of the apparatus.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein thefirst passage forms a first path between the speaker and the firstsubset, and the second passage forms a second path between themicrophone and the second subset.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, furthercomprising: a plate on which at least a portion of the first passage andat least a portion of the second passage are formed.
 15. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein the first passage or the second passage comprises aduct.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first passage or thesecond passage comprises a void space.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein at least one portion of a circuit board associated with thespeaker or the microphone is in the void space.
 18. A portableelectronic device comprising: a case frame including a set of holesformed thereon; a speaker and a microphone placed in an enclosure formedat least by the case frame; and at least one plate including a firstopening and a second opening, each of the first opening and the secondopening at least partially overlapping with the set of holes, and thefirst sub hole aligned with the speaker and the second sub hole alignedwith the microphone.
 19. The portable electronic device of claim 18,wherein the at least one plate comprises: a void space in which at leastone portion of a circuit board associated with the speaker or themicrophone is located.
 20. The portable electronic device of claim 19,wherein the first opening forms a first passage and the second openingforms a second passage, and wherein at least part of the first passageor the second passage is further formed by the at least one portion ofthe circuit board.